Kids and screen time

By Ella Walsh |

Screen-based media (which includes TV, playstations, nintendos and computers) can suck hours out of your kid's day without them - or you - even noticing; time they should be doing something more active or, at the very least, more stimulating. A good mix of indoor and outdoor pursuits, passive activities and physical exercise every day is recommended.

Recommendations for screen time:

Children under 2 years. Very little time watching TV or using a computer Preschoolers. Up to an hour a day of programs made for preschool children with little or no computer time.

Children 5 to 8 years. An hour of screen time (in whatever guise you choose) a day is plenty. Children over 8 years. An hour and a half-hour to two hours a day.

REMEMBER!

While there's no denying that there are many entertaining experiences for your child to have through TV, video games and computers, s/he also needs time to build strong relationships with the people in his or her life. S/he should have more time in his or her day for being active through physical play and learning through 'hands-on' activities than for the more passive experiences to be had during screen time.